Machine for winding and tightening fence-wires



(No Modl.)

KNAPP. MAOHINE FOR WINDING AND'TIGHTENING FENCE WIRES.

Patentedfeb; -8; 1.88'7.

9 7 MW M %H m n? W! N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XVRIGHT KNAPP, OF EVELAND GROVE, IOWA.

I MACHINE FOR WINDING AND TIGHTENING FENCE-WIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 357,209, dated February 8, 1887.

H Application filed August 19. 1886. Serial No. 211,289. (No model.) i

T or whom it hwy concern:

Be it known that I, VVRIGHT KNAPP, a citizen of the United States. residing at Eveland Grove, in the county of Mahaska and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Winding and Tightening Fence-Wires, of which the following is a specification,

Myvinvention relates to an improvement in machines for winding and tightening wires for wire fences; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination, of devices that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View ofa device embodying myimprovements in position for winding the wire from an old fence. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, showing the opposite side from that representedin Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the machine for winding and tightening wires, and an e1eva tion, partly in section, of the clamping device, showing the manner of using the apparatus for stretching a wire. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the clamping device.

A represents the machine for winding and tightening wires, which comprises a rectangular frame, B, having supporting wheels or rollers G. From the center of the frame proj ect vertical standards D, which are provided with inclinedbraces E. These standards are made with a series of transverse openings, F.

G represents a horizontal shaft which is journaled in two of the openings F of-the standards D, and one end of the said shaft .forms a spindle adapted to receive a crankhandle, H. Near the said end of the shaft, and on the outer side of one of the standards D, is a ratchet-wheel, I. A pawl, K, is pivoted t0 the standard and engages the ratchetwheel. On the opposite end of the shaftG is a friction drum or pulley, L, which is attached be hereinafter described. Under the front end of the frame, at the center thereof, is pivoted a detent, P, which is adapted to be forced into the ground, so as to prevent the reelframe from moving when a wire is being stretched. This detent has an arm, P, which is adapted to strike against a cross-bar, P at r the front end of the frame, to prevent the detent from turning on its pivot after it is forced into the ground and when the machine is under strain, thus'holding the machine firmlyin place while the wire is being stretched.

R represents a clamp comprising apair of jaws, S and S, which are pivoted together, and are provided with arms S. On one side of the jaw S is a shoulder or offset which is provided with a series of teeth or corrugations, a, and the edge of the opposing jaw, S, is provided with a depending flange, b, which is adapted to close upon the outer side of the said teeth.

0 represents a link which connects the arms S together, and the said link is adapted to slide back and forth upon the arms. WVhen the link is forced to the outer ends of. the arms, it serves to lock the jaws in a closed position.

d represents a rope which is attached to the outer ends of the arms S".

The operation of my invention is as follows: When it is desired to reel the wire from a fence which is to be taken down, one end of the wire is attached to the spool N and the reel-frame is placed on the ground. The shaft G, carrying the spool, is rotated by means of its crankhandle, thus winding the wire from the fence onto the spool, as will be very readily understood. As the wire is wound upon the spool the reel-frame advances on the ground by reason of its supporting-rollers. In order to prevent the wire from being loosely reeled upon the spool, the brake-lever 0 is applied to the friction drum or pulley by forcing the said lever up against the under side thereof. This then withdrawing the latter from the standis then rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, thus causing the wire to be stretched, as will be very readily understood.

Having thus described my invention, I 01{1i1]1- In a machine for stretching fence-wires, the combination of the reel-frame and the detent pivoted thereto and adapted to engage the ground, the said detent having the arm 1?, to bear against the reel-frame and thereby prevent the detent from turning when the machine is under strain, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presenee of two witnesses.

\VRIGHT KNAPP.

\Vitnesses:

J. S. PARKER, CHESTER J ONES. 

